Skateboarders find a place to play in Calabasas
By Sharon Makokian
Acorn Staff Writer

ROLLING AROUND LEGALLY-- Matt Pink, a freshman at Agoura High School, is one of the first skateboarders to try the jumps and rails at the new Gates Canyon Skate Park following the official, mid-day dedication ceremonies by the city of Calabasas. Gates Canyon Park is at 25801 Thousand Oaks Blvd., north of the Las Virgenes exit of the Ventura Freeway. The skate park will be open on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. For safety requirements, hours and fees, call (818) 880-6461 or (818) 878-4225.

Spirits were high and wheels were rolling Saturday morning, when Los Angeles County dedicated Gates Canyon Park to the city of Calabasas and the city then dedicated it as a part-time skate park for youth of the community.

The seven-acre park at 25801 Thousand Oaks Boulevard in Calabasas was built by Los Angeles County in 1990, when the land was still unincorporated.

By 1993, Calabasas had become a city and had taken over operations of the park, according to Calabasas Mayor Dennis Washburn.

At Saturday’s celebration, Los Angeles County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky officially relinquished the park from the county to the city and dedicated it to the youngsters.

"Use it safely. Be responsible, and have a good time," he told the skaters and skateboarders who were patiently watching the dedication while waiting to use the new facilities.

Calabasas Mayor Pro Tem Janice Lee told the crowd that, in her statewide travels, she had visited many skate parks.

"Those I’ve seen don’t hold a candle to this … visual picture … the oak tree … mountains surrounding. This is the most picturesque," she said.

Three years in the making, the skate park underwent many challenges before Saturday’s grand opening. City Councilman Robert Sibilia supported the idea from the beginning.

"You could call this the saga that went from tragedy to triumph," Sibilia told the crowd, explaining the need for a skate park came into focus after the death of young Jason Lewin in 1997, from a skateboard accident in the street near his house.

"Something positive channeled through that tragedy," Sibilia said.

However, the process was rough, with town meetings, objections, and several sites bandied around, he said.

"This park was approved, shelved and resurrected. Each time, it had new momentum," he said.

"Then, (Community Services Director) John Keisler took the bull by the horns and led everything forward," he said.

The Lewin family was on hand to dedicate the park and released white balloons into the air in memory of Jason. Skate Park Task Force chairwoman Linda Wright told the Lewins that they had been the "core" of their dream.

"Jason has got to be smiling down on us," said an emotional Martin Lewin, Jason’s father.

While the adults gave their speeches, the kids just wanted to try out the park, with its challenging half-pipes, quarter pipes, fly boxes and other ramp-like structures.

"I just want to skate right now," said Erik Aronow, 13, of Calabasas.

When that time finally came, the kids enjoyed it, as their parents watched from the sidelines.

"I think this is a good idea. This is so well supervised," said Debbie Rosenquist, of Hidden Hills, whose son, Erik, was skateboarding.

Rosenquist noted that the children not only adhered to the formal rules, but followed "unwritten rules" as well, politely taking turns on the equipment.

The park has 15 stated rules, the main one being that everyone wears protective gear—a helmet, kneepads and elbow pads. All skaters are required to have a permission card signed by their parents, either in person or notarized.

The park, operating on a three-month trial basis, pending studies by the city, will be open from 3 to 6 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and from 1 to 5 p.m. on Saturdays. Each visit costs $2 or $20 for a monthly membership pass (which will save the average user about $4).